Periplaneta americana peptide decreases apoptosis of pig-ovary granulosa cells induced by H2O2 through FoxO1

Oxidative stress can induce apoptosis of granulosa cells and lead to follicular atresia, thereby reducing the number of pigs giving birth. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of Periplaneta americana peptide (PAP) on the apoptosis of the granulosa cells of pig ovaries (PGCs) induced by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) via FoxO1. PGCs were treated with H₂O₂ to establish a cell apoptosis model. Cell viability was measured using the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, and cell apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry. The malondialdehyde (MDA) level and nitric oxide (NO) content were detected to reflect the oxidative stress. Western blotting, qRT-PCR and overexpression were undertaken to determine the expression of FoxO1 and caspase-3, and immunofluorescence was used to detect FoxO1 in the nucleus and cytoplasm. PGCs were treated with 100 μM H₂O₂ for 6 hr, which resulted in oxidative damage and apoptosis and an apoptosis rate for PGCs of 32.95%. Next, PGCs were treated with 400 μg/ml PAP for 24 hr to repair the apoptosis induced by H₂O₂. PAP improved cell viability in H₂O₂-stimulated PGCs, the increased MDA level and NO content caused by H₂O₂ stimulation were reversed and the apoptotic rate of PGCs was reduced. The qRT-PCR and Western blotting results indicated that PAP decreased the H₂O₂-induced apoptosis and the expression of FoxO1 and caspase-3 in PGCs. The effect of PAP was the same following FoxO1 overexpression. FoxO1 was expressed in the nucleus when stimulated by H₂O₂ or overexpression; however, it migrated to the cytoplasm following PAP treatment. PAP decreased the apoptosis of PGCs induced by H₂O₂ by regulating FoxO1 expression and nuclear translocation.     

Carbon stocks and carbon fluxes from a 10‐year prescribed burning chronosequence on a UK blanket peat

Prescribed burning is a common land management technique in many areas of the UK uplands. However, concern has been expressed at the impact of this management practice on carbon stocks and fluxes found in the carbon‐rich peat soils that underlie many of these areas. This study measured both carbon stocks and carbon fluxes from a chronosequence of prescribed burn sites in northern England. A range of carbon parameters were measured including above ground biomass and carbon stocks; net ecosystem exchange (NEE), net ecosystem respiration (R_eco) and photosynthesis (P_g) from closed chamber methods; and particulate organic carbon (POC). Analysis of the CO₂ data showed that burning was a significant factor in measured CO₂ readings but that other factors such as month of sampling explained a greater proportion of the variation in the data. Carbon budget results showed that whereas all the plots were net sources of carbon, the most recent burn scars were smaller sources of carbon compared with the older burn scars, suggesting that burning of Calluna‐dominated landscapes leads to an ‘avoided loss’ of carbon. However, this management intervention did not lead to a transition to a carbon sink and that for carbon purposes, active peat‐forming conditions are desirable.     

油菜种子低亚油酸和亚麻酸含量异交稳定技术的建立

为降低油菜种子中的亚油酸和亚麻酸含量并使之在异交条件下保持基本稳定,以高油品种CY2作为受体亲本,采用RNA干涉技术沉默油菜内源Bn FAD2基因的表达,抑制油酸脱饱和反应。育成的3个独立转基因株系的亚油酸和亚麻酸含量下降到6%以下,其中亚油酸含量较受体亲本降低78.2%~86.5%,亚麻酸含量降低53.4%~65.8%。将3个转基因株系与2个亚油酸和亚麻酸含量较高的常规品种正反交,F1种子中这2种脂肪酸的含量依然保持在与转基因亲本相仿的低水平。由此可知,通过RNA干涉技术沉默Bn FAD2基因的表达可赋予油菜低亚油酸和亚麻酸含量的异交稳定特性。这一特性的获得对于今后培育异交稳定的高油酸油菜新品种具有重要意义。     

肌细胞增强因子2B基因在人和动物中的研究进展

肌细胞增强因子2B(MEF2B)基因属于肌细胞增强因子2(MEF2)基因家族成员,广泛表达于人和动物的肌肉和神经组织中,在肌肉生成、神经系统发育和分化、肝脏纤维化等方面具有重要的作用,作者从MEF2B基因的结构、组织分布、生物学功能及研究进展等方面对该基因进行了综述.     

可可泛素结合酶基因家族的生物信息学初步分析

泛素结合酶(E2s)促进底物泛素化或者与E3s链接,是靶蛋白泛素化的关键酶,在泛素-蛋白酶体途径中起重要作用。利用可可(Theobroma cacao L.)全基因组测序数据,共鉴定出45个E2s基因家族成员,包括39个UBC和6个UEV基因。通过生物信息学方法,对可可E2s家族的基本理化性质、基因结构、二级结构预测、亚细胞定位、进化关系等方面进行初步分析。结果表明:可可E2s基因CDS长度在441(Tc UEV3)~3 651 bp(Tc UBC7)之间,对应的编码蛋白氨基酸数目在146(Tc UEV3)~1 216 aa(Tc UBC7)之间,编码蛋白分子量在16.39~134.71 ku之间。E2s基因外显子在1~11之间,多数基因外显子数目在5~7之间。E2s基因在10条染色体上均有分布,1号染色体为7个,数量最多;6号染色体2个基因,数量最少。可可E2s蛋白大多为不稳定蛋白,且均为亲水性蛋白,其二级结构以α-螺旋和无规则卷曲为主要构成元件。大多数可可E2s蛋白定位在细胞核,少数定位在内质网或者细胞质。进化树分析表明:可可E2s蛋白被分为20个亚家族,包括16个UBC亚家族和4个UEV亚家族,第Ⅵ亚家族E2s数目最多为9个;E2s家族蛋白在物种进化过程中具有高度保守性。     

荔枝FKBP16-2基因启动子的克隆与瞬时表达分析

前期研究中发现了一个果肉低表达而叶片中高表达的荔枝基因FKBP16-2。本文克隆了该基因1 578 bp的启动子片段并对其功能进行了初步分析,结果表明:荔枝FKBP16-2基因启动子序列中含有大量的TATA-box和CAAT-box保守元件,以及TCA-element,ARE,HSE,GCN4_motif,O2-site等各种转录调控相关的顺式作用元件。该启动子能驱动GUS基因在荔枝的花、叶、根、果皮以及种子中表达而在果肉中不表达,表达具有组织特异性。     

拟南芥响应3-羰基己酰基高丝氨酸内酯的膜蛋白质组分析

为了探索植物响应细菌信号N-酰基高丝氨酸内酯(AHLs)的分子机制。本文利用二维差异凝胶电泳技术分析了3-羰基己酰基高丝氨酸内酯(3OC6-HSL)处理引起拟南芥膜蛋白质组的变化情况,结果表明3OC6-HSL共诱导53个蛋白点发生显著变化,涉及天然免疫、逆境胁迫响应、碳代谢、能量代谢、光合作用等多种生物学功能,暗示了3OC6-HSL在调控植物生长发育和抗逆性方面发挥着重要作用,可为阐明植物-细菌跨界通讯的分子机制提供更多的功能蛋白质信息。     

菠菜新品种蔬菠2号的选育

蔬菠2号是以雌性系221为母本、自交系213为父本配置的菠菜一代杂交种。该品种植株直立,生长势强,叶片大、深绿色、尖圆形,叶面平展;植株生长速度较快,适于早春露地、秋露地及设施栽培。     

An improved method for extraction of sorghum polymeric protein complexes

A method for fractionating sorghum proteins using extraction solvents and techniques designed to obtain polymeric protein structures (especially disulfide linked) was developed. Extraction and separation conditions were optimized in terms of completeness of protein extraction, sample stability, and analytical resolution. After pre-extraction of albumins and globulins, a 3-step sequential procedure involving no reducing agents was applied to ground whole sorghum flour. The three fractions obtained represented proportionally different protein polymer contents and molecular weight distribution as evidenced by comparative size exclusion chromatography. Protein composition also varied among the extracts with differences in kafirin composition and non-kafirin proteins detected in the fractions by RP-HPLC and SDS-PAGE analysis. The ability to quantify and further characterize sorghum polymeric protein complexes will be useful for additional studies linking protein structures with functionality and digestibility and variations for these properties within diverse sorghum germplasm.